Exploring the interaction of lipid bilayers with curcumin-laponite nanoparticles: implications for drug delivery and therapeutic applications

Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is renowned for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, making it beneficial for treating conditions like arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, and various cancers. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, curcumin's poor bioavailability—due to its rapid metabolism and low solubility—limits its clinical efficacy. To address this, recent research has focused on enhancing curcumin delivery using nanoparticles, liposomes, and novel nanomaterials. Among these, laponite, a synthetic nanoclay, has shown promise in improving curcumin delivery due to its unique properties, including large surface area, dual charge and stability in solution. This study explores the use of curcumin-laponite nanoparticles as carrier vehicles for controlled delivery to in vitro model membranes. Utilising advanced techniques such as neutron reflectometry, atomic force microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, and infrared spectroscopy, we monitored the interaction between curcumin-laponite nanoparticles and solid-supported lipid bilayers, revealing enhanced stability and controlled release of curcumin across the membrane. These findings pave the way for the development of curcumin-based therapies targeting cardiovascular, neurological, and oncological diseases, leveraging the synergistic effects of curcumin's biological activity and laponite's delivery capabilities.